# 7176
Regular readers of this blog are already aware of the infectious disease news gathering and analysis that are the daily work product of the volunteers at flu forums like FluTrackers and the Flu WIki.
I’ve written of their work often, most recently in Newshounds On The Trail Of The Latest Beijing H7N9 Report.
One of the creative talents, as senior moderator at FluTrackers is Laidback Al, who produces and updates maps and charts for the site, and from time to time, generates detailed analyses of disease outbreaks.
As an example, each January Al produces a terrific review of the previous year’s H5N1 cases (see H5N1 in 2012: The Year in Review).
Today Al has produced a new text and graphical report on the first 100 cases in the H7N9 outbreak in China, called:
Abstract
A novel influenza virus was discovered infecting humans in mid-February in the People’s Republic of China (China) and was reported publicly on March 31, 2013. This influenza virus, Influenza A (H7N9), has infected more than 100 individuals in China since mid-February. It has not yet been reported outside of China. Among the reported cases, it is virulent with a high mortality rate. Men are twice as likely to contract the virus as women. Most reported cases are elderly individuals. Although limited human-to-human transmission may have occurred among these cases, the reported data does not indicate sustained human-to-human transmission.
Introduction
Since the first official report of human infections of Influenza A(H7N9) in China on March 31, 2013 (link) more than 100 human cases of influenza A(H7N9) have been reported from China to the World Health Organization (WHO) as a reportable disease under International Health Regulations. Data incorporated into this discussion is primarily based on provincial and municipal Departments of Health announcements, official media reports, and updates by WHO. There is no official line list of human cases infected with H7N9 that is publicly available although the Western Pacific Region of WHO published a table of cases that was current through April 17, but has now removed that page from the web.
The information discussed here is based on information compiled by members of FluTrackers.com. FluTrackers (FT) is also maintaining a current numbered list of cases (FluTrackers link). The case numbering sequence used by FluTrackers is based on the date of official report, not onset dates. This list corresponds to the cases reported to WHO by China (WHO archive link), although this discussion includes the asymptomatic 4-year-old boy from Shunyi district, Beijing who tested positive for H7N9 but is not included in the official case count (FT Case Number 61).
I’ve just reproduced a small sampling of this report, and I invite you to visit this link to view it in its entirety.
